Jewish Center congregants hold the braided candle, the Havdalah spice box, and the cup of wine as Rabbi Jack Shlachter, far left, leads the congregation in the blessings bidding farewell to the Sabbath at a previous Havdalah gathering. Courtesy photo
BY RABBI JACK SHLACHTER
Los Alamos Jewish Center
The Los Alamos Jewish Center invites the community to a program of Jewish short stories this Saturday night, Jan. 20 at the Jewish Center, 2400 Canyon Road. The program is part of a series of Saturday evening gatherings at the Center to mark the close of the Sabbath.
The Jewish Sabbath is observed weekly from sundown Friday until dark on Saturday. Just as Jews welcome the Sabbath with candles, wine, challah bread and blessings on Friday evening, Jews usher out the Sabbath with a brief ceremony as well. The ceremony, known as Havdalah – literally separation (between the Sabbath and the rest of the week) – is a full sensory experience. Participants taste the wine or juice, smell the spices, see and feel the multi-wicked candle flame, and hear the congregation chanting the blessings.
The evening will start with a pot luck light meal at 5:30 PM, as the Sabbath winds down. Due to Jewish dietary restrictions, only vegetarian food or kosher types of fish (salmon, tuna) are permitted at the Jewish Center. The meal will be followed by the brief Havdalah ceremony, and the LAJC is trying out a variant of the popular New York-based “Selected Shorts” storytelling by offering an evening of Jewish short stories read by members of the congregation. The readings will start around 6:15 PM and include works by an assortment of Jewish authors (Rebbe Nachman of Bratslav, Franz Kafka, Elisa Albert, Etgar Keret, and more) with readers of all ages presenting. There is no charge for the program, but non-Jewish Center members are requested to please RSVP in advance to losalamosjewishcenter@gmail.com. Donations to the Jewish Center are always appreciated.
The Los Alamos Jewish Center is located at 2400 Canyon Road, just down the street from PEEC Nature Center. The Jewish Center holds weekly Friday night Shabbat services, monthly community Shabbat dinners, children’s religious education, adult learning, Jewish holiday events, and social gatherings. Come join us! Contact: https://www.lajc.org/ (505) 662-2140, losalamosjewishcenter@gmail.com or contact Rabbi Jack Shlachter directly at physicsrabbi@gmail.com